We serve a God who works through hardship and defeat.
Through Christ, God identified with us and suffered for us in order to save us. In turn, we identify with him and suffer for him in hopes of glorifying him and sharing his salvation with others.
Jesus tells his disciples to expect this kind of opportunity in opposition. In Luke 21:12-13, he says:
They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.
Christians will have more and more chances to “bear witness” through hardship in the coming years, I am certain.
I praise God that Peter and Hazelmary Bull have provided an example of what faithful witness looks like in our context today. As Hazelmary said, “God demands that our faith doesn’t end at the kitchen door. He means for your faith to run in every corner of your life.”
Please pray for this couple, and for the millions who will hear about Jesus through their story.
And get used to hearing a lot more stories like it as the jack-booting intolerance of tolerance marches on.
